22/04/2011

Queenly name for Catherine

When Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981, there were quite a few sniffs from certain quarters about her name. It wasn't considered "Royal" enough, or even 'Christian' enough by some people for the wife of the future head of the Church of England.

It may sound a bit ridiculous -- an attitude reserved for a fastidious older generation --that such an ancient name as Diana was sneered at for Royalty, but as someone in their thirties pointed out to me just the other day, "we wouldn't want a Queen Chardonnay, would we?". It just doesn't quite fit right. In fact, many Royals throughout history have chosen one of their middle names for their official title to sound more "royal". George VI's first name was Albert.

I wonder, in light of that, whether Carole and Michael Middleton are relieved that, twenty-nine years ago, they named their daughter Catherine Elizabeth -- thereby giving her not only one queenly name but two. They also gave their other children, Philippa Charlotte and James William, two Royal names apiece as well.

For any parent looking for that regal flair, there are lots of "queenly" and "kingly" names to choose from.

Kings and Queens of England or Great Britain:

Athelstan

Cnut

Charles

Eadwig / Edwy

Edgar

Edmund

Edred

Edward

Ethelred

George

Harold

Henry

James

John

Philip (joint ruler)

Richard

Stephen

William

Adelaide

Adeliza

Ælfthryth / Elfrida

Alexandra

Anne

Berengaria

Caroline

Catherine

Charlotte

Edith

Eleanor

Elizabeth

Emma

Henrietta Maria

Isabella

Jane

Joan / Joanna

Margaret

Mary

Matilda

Philippa

Victoria

Children of Monarchs (Prince and Princesses) that are not included above:

Comments

Queenly name for Catherine

When Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981, there were quite a few sniffs from certain quarters about her name. It wasn't considered "Royal" enough, or even 'Christian' enough by some people for the wife of the future head of the Church of England.

It may sound a bit ridiculous -- an attitude reserved for a fastidious older generation --that such an ancient name as Diana was sneered at for Royalty, but as someone in their thirties pointed out to me just the other day, "we wouldn't want a Queen Chardonnay, would we?". It just doesn't quite fit right. In fact, many Royals throughout history have chosen one of their middle names for their official title to sound more "royal". George VI's first name was Albert.

I wonder, in light of that, whether Carole and Michael Middleton are relieved that, twenty-nine years ago, they named their daughter Catherine Elizabeth -- thereby giving her not only one queenly name but two. They also gave their other children, Philippa Charlotte and James William, two Royal names apiece as well.

For any parent looking for that regal flair, there are lots of "queenly" and "kingly" names to choose from.

Kings and Queens of England or Great Britain:

Athelstan

Cnut

Charles

Eadwig / Edwy

Edgar

Edmund

Edred

Edward

Ethelred

George

Harold

Henry

James

John

Philip (joint ruler)

Richard

Stephen

William

Adelaide

Adeliza

Ælfthryth / Elfrida

Alexandra

Anne

Berengaria

Caroline

Catherine

Charlotte

Edith

Eleanor

Elizabeth

Emma

Henrietta Maria

Isabella

Jane

Joan / Joanna

Margaret

Mary

Matilda

Philippa

Victoria

Children of Monarchs (Prince and Princesses) that are not included above: